> I replaced some foam hatch tape with the silicone/polyurethane sealer
> after the boat had been varnished (the foam was too thick to let the hatch
> rest flush). I tried to be careful applying the bead, and I didn't use so
> much that it would squish out the crack. I used only enough to give
> approximately a 1/2" wide band on the hatch cover.

Remember, if you go over the varnish your seal is only as strong as the bond between the varnish and the epoxy. Also, if the varnish breaks down after awhile you will have problems with the seal.

If you use silicone and then want to paint you will need a strong silicon removing solvent to prep the WHOLE surface of your boat. Fisheyes are a nightmare!

Urethane adhesives bond with between 400 and 900 psi., so obviously you would be better to bond to the epoxy than to the varnish. On a 12"X2" rudder pedal mount, this gives you between 9600 and 21,600 pounds of shear strength! Works really well as a sealer because it remains flexible, too.

Makes through hull mounting a waste of time. {:o)

Ian